Author's Note: I was supposed to post this yesterday but I kind of forgot. Sorry everyone! Hope you like this chapter!

Chapter Twenty: Thalia POV: The Announcement

After leaving Luke, I went to the Zeus cabin. I didn't really feel like talking to anyone at the moment, although the moment I walked into the Zeus cabin, I regretted my decision. It was freezing in there. I pulled my water-damaged leather jacket around my arms and swept the dust off of my old bed roll. Then I sat down and thought about our situation. What could I do to help Annabeth?

After a few minutes of thinking, I ended up falling asleep. I only woke up to the sound of the dinner bell much later. I sighed, contemplating remaining where I was, but I knew I needed to eat, and besides, they were going to announce Luke and my return to camp. It would be kind of awkward if I didn't show up for that.

I got up and exited the cabin, making my way to the dining hall. All around me, campers were streaming from the fields, the forest, the canoe lake, the arena, the basketball courts, and the cabins. I gulped and joined the crowd flooding toward the open-air dining pavilion.

I could smell barbecue and smiled. My favorite. I was making my way toward the usually empty Zeus table when Chiron beckoned me over from the head table. Confused, I made my way over.

"What is it, Chiron?" he beckoned for me to sit down next to him. I did.

"I spoke to Luke," he said in a hushed voice that worried me. "Luke has informed me that Kronos is planning to kill Percy sooner than he had originally announced." I gasped. "Annabeth may not be able to get there in time."

Chiron said that slightly louder than he expected, and a hush came over the dining pavilion. It didn't last for long, though. Campers started murmuring almost immediately.

"Percy's captured?"

"Is it true that Luke's back?"

"Luke's back? Really?"

"Are you sure we can trust him?"

"QUIET!" Chiron shouted. It was the loudest I've ever heard him speak. "Yes, the rumors are true. Luke is back." Campers started whispering again, but Chiron waved a hand and they were silent. "We have made the decision to trust him. Thalia has returned as well."

All eyes turned to me. I looked down. Suddenly, someone grabbed my hand. It was Luke. He took a seat on my left. Everyone stared at him, wide-eyed.

"Also, Annabeth of the Athena cabin has left on a quest with Milo of the Hecate cabin and Layla of the Hypnos cabin to rescue Percy Jackson who has been captured by the enemy."

Any whispering that had continued before this announcement ended quickly.

"Furthermore, Luke has informed us that Kronos plans to kill Percy sooner than he previously announced, most likely before Annabeth can get there to save him."

The dining hall was suddenly alive with noise again. "What do we do?"

"SILENCE!" Chiron shouted again. "We declare war."